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general::
Phrase(s): choke something back
to fight hard to keep something from coming out of one’s mouth, such as sobs, tears, angry words, vomit, etc. • I tried to choke the unpleasant words back, but I could not. • She choked back her grief, but it came forth nonetheless. • I could hardly choke my tears back.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs